Women's Soccer 2012 Game Highlight

08/30/2012 - Millersville

Following a scoreless first half, the Wilmington University women’s soccer team dropped a 4-1 decision at the hands of host Millersville in both team’s 2012 season opener on Thursday night at Biemsderfer Stadium.

Led by senior goalkeeper Amanda Walters’ five save, the Wildcats (0-1-0) went into the halftime break at a scoreless tie. But it was a five minute stretch early in the second half that saw Millersville (1-0-0) pull away for the victory.

With the game knotted at 0-0, Millersville got on the board first in the 51st minute as Megan Wilson put home a rebound following a save by Walters only 5:04 into the second period. Less than two minutes later, Millersville’s Megan Kelley broke away from the pack and went one-on-one with the Walters, slotting it home for the 2-0 lead at the 52 minute mark.

Before the Wildcats could assess what hit them, the Marauder again responded on the attack less than three minutes later. After a long pass by Kelsey Mattola from the left side, Chrissy McLaughlin beat Walters to her lower right hand side, making it 3-0 at the 54:39 mark of the match.

Wilmington cut the deficit to two however, in the 65th minute off a set play. With Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins over the ball for the free-kick, Molly Taylor capitalized on a one-time volley out of the air and into the back of the net on the right side of the goal.

But that would be as close as the Wildcats would get to the Marauders, as the host team would tack on another through ball down the middle to McLaughlin in the 79th minute.

“What hurt us was that our communication fell off and we let bad decisions snowball, especially during that five minute stretch early in the second half,” fifth year head coach Josh Ruggiero said. “We tried to do more than we needed too, making us work harder and not smarter.”

Walters finished with 11 saves to begin her senior season, while Marauder goalkeeper Olivia Webber recorded five saves on the night.

Millersville outshot the Wildcats, 22-9, and held a closer margin on corner kicks, 3-2, for the match. The Wildcats had two corners in the second half however, to Millersville’s one.

“Millersville is a good young team,” Ruggiero continued. “They have some experience and speed and took full advantage of us having an off night. We’ll get back to work and learn from this. That is what good teams do. I know this team will do that.”

The Wildcats return to action on Saturday, September 1 when they open the new athletic complex for all Wilmington University athletics with a home match against Le Moyne. The start is scheduled for 12 p.m.